White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt clashed with Associated Press and Alliance reporters on Tuesday over Trump's use of tariffs after acknowledging unusual questions to the outlet during a White House briefing.
Leavitt has faced many questions about the widespread use of tariffs on imports that rattled financial markets and caused recession horrors. At one point, Levitt called out an Associated Press reporter. He asked Levitt why the president is proposing “tax-deposited hikes in the form of tariffs,” as opposed to the tax cuts he promised in the campaign trajectory.
“He's not actually carrying out tax payments. The tariffs are tax increases in foreign countries that have been torn us apart again,” Leavitt said. “Taxes are tax cuts for Americans, and the president is a solid advocate for tax cuts.”
Josh Bork, the Associated Press reporter in the room, replied: “Sorry, have you paid customs duties? Because I have it. They are not charged by foreign companies and will be charged to the importer.”
Leavitt claimed he was shot by Bork, claiming that tariffs would lead to increased wages and income for Americans.
“I think it's a shame to be trying to test my knowledge of economics and the decisions this president has made,” Leavitt said. “I regret now asking the Associated Press.”
Testy Exchange came amid the battle between press access between the White House and the Associated Press. The White House blocked Associated Press and Photographers from a pool of journalists covering the president, to a pool of journalists taking part in certain events within the White House. The AP is part of the press pool and has been spreading information about the president to more people for decades.
Leavitt has not been called to the Associated Press reporters at a press conference in the weeks since the outlet was banned.
SPAT comes from the AP's decision not to adopt the name “American Gulf” completely in its entirety influential stylebook instead of the Gulf of Mexico.
Last month a federal judge refused to restore Associated Press access at the White House. US District Judge Trevor McFadden was Trump's appointee during his first term, and stressed that additional briefings on the issue were necessary for both parties “in interest considerations.” He sets a prompt schedule for the interim injunction for March 20th and ordered discussion.
